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Introduction
Obesity is the unseen epidemic that is fast becoming a silent killer today. Obesity is the second leading cause of mortality in the world, right after Smoking.
Also, latest research and publications show that approximately 10% of the Cancers are now being caused by Obesity. Obesity can cause cancers of many organs such as stomach, pancreas, large intestine, prostate in men and uterus in women. These are just a few of the complications of Obesity, besides ailments such as Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels that may lead to stroke etc.
Obesity is a major problem of the 21st century and it should be dealt with quickly and efficiently to prevent catastrophic future effects. Childhood obesity is on the rise and every fourth child is obese in our schools. This is going to create a large number of young adults and teenagers with health problems and conditions that are usually seen in the fourth decade of life.
Proper diet combined with exercise and changes in life style should be practiced to reduce the impact of this Obesity epidemic. Several methods of weight loss are available today for weight loss, but, most of them target the short term weight loss. This lost weight can come back with in next few months.
However, Bariatric surgery offers a long term weight loss solution that not only helps in reducing the excess weight but also helps prevent future weight gain.
Surgical procedures performed to reduce weight (Baros), is called Bariatric surgery.
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery is known to be the most effective and long lasting treatment for morbid obesity and many related conditions, but now mounting evidence suggests it may be among the most effective treatments for metabolic diseases and conditions including type-2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obstructive sleep apnea.
The consensus statement from world reknowned organizations such as National Institute of Health (NIH), American Society forMetabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is this:
“Surgery for severe obesity goes way beyond weight loss. This surgery results in the complete remission or significant improvement of type 2 diabetes and other life-threatening diseases in most patients”.
Complications of Obesity Morbid obesity is a significant risk to life. It leads to life-threatening conditions such as:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes (Type 2)
- Dyslipidemia (elevated Cholesterol, LDL, reduced HDL, elevated Triglycerides etc)
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- Restrictive respiratory disease
- Arthritis
- Sleep apnea syndrome
- Gynecologic cancer
- Cancer of Prostate, Colon etc
- Gallbladder disease
- Varicose veins
- Stress Urinary Incontinence
- Menstrual Irregularity
- Infertility
- PCOD
- Migraine (Pseudo tumor cerebri)
- Premature death
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